Scientists Identify Protein Driving Parkinson's Disease Spread in the Brain
Researchers have identified a protein that may help Parkinson's disease spread through the brain, offering a potential new target for treatment.
The study found that immune cells release a protein called GPNMB when responding to damaged neurons, creating a cycle that accelerates brain cell degeneration. In early laboratory experiments, antibodies that blocked GPNMB prevented this toxic process from spreading between cells.
Parkinson's disease progressively affects movement and cognitive function as neurons die off. Previous research has suggested that the disease spreads along neural pathways, but the mechanisms behind this transmission were not fully understood. The newly identified role of GPNMB provides insight into how the damage propagates.
The research team notes that while these findings are promising, further studies are needed before the approach could be developed into a human therapy.